Does Robert Downey Jr. Want to Put Mel Gibson in ‘The Avengers: Age of Ultron?’

Robert Downey Jr. and Mel Gibson first worked together twenty-four years ago in the 1990 film 'Air America' and have maintained a friendship ever since. Which may be why there's a rumor that Downey Jr. is trying to pull strings and get both Gibson and Jodie Foster into the Marvel universe, and possibly into 'The Avengers: Age of Ultron.'

He wants to bring Mel and Jodie into the Marvel universe, preferably in one of the Avengers films. It’s been a longtime dream of Robert’s to help Mel and Jodie reach similar big box office heights like the ones he’s achieved in recent years.”

Considering the source, we'd take this with a grain of salt, but it's true that both Foster -- who directed Gibson in the 2011 film 'The Beaver' and starred with him in 1994's 'Maverick' -- and Downey Jr. have tried to help restore Gibson's reputation after an arrest and marital troubles marked him as troubled and bigoted. Those actions seemingly turned off audiences as Gibson's most recent theatrical efforts (2010's 'Edge of Darkness,' 'The Beaver,' and last year's 'Machete Kills') all flopped.

But with Downey Jr. in a great place to negotiate his return to the Iron Man armor (he signed on for two 'Avengers' sequels, but has yet to agree to 'Iron Man 4'), it will be interesting to see if he can use that clout to help his friend, though -- as is noted in the article -- he tried to get Gibson to play the president in 'Iron Man 3' but was shot down. Getting Foster to play a role wouldn't seem to be a problem, but it will be interesting to see if Downey Jr. can use his clout to get Gibson into the Marvel universe.